Who is the Icelandic vs Croatian referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz and how many World Cups has he officiated?

ANTONIO MATEU LAHOZ is one of the most respected civil servants in Europe.

And the highly experienced Spaniard takes on the duel between the Netherlands and Argentina in a delicious World Cup Quarterfinals.

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Who is Antonio Mateu Lahoz?

One of the game’s most eccentric and entertaining umpires, Lahoz often rocks out into stadiums in rock star shades and a beaming grin.

The Spaniard, who has been active since 1999, was listed by Fifa in 2011 and refereed qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup.

He is an integral part of La Liga and has been accused by some fans of favoring Real Madrid in the past.

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Lahoz is also known for handing out yellow cards for the slightest confrontation while ignoring potentially dangerous challenges.

A bizarre performance in Italy’s World Cup qualifier loss to Sweden made internet headlines, with one viewer ranting: “The match referee is far too busy being the center of attention.”

Lahoz gave an insight into his style and revealed: “For me it is fundamental to read what the media is saying before a game.

“I want to know how each player comes into play, if there is pressure, if they are accused of diving, how many bookings they have. I spend hours reading, watching videos and taking notes on my next game.”

Has he officiated at major tournaments?

Mateu Lahoz made his European Championship debut in 2021 when he officiated in Belgium’s 3-0 win over Russia in St Petersburg.

And the well-known referee took care of Iran’s group stage loss to USA at the 2022 World Cup